CHAPTER VI.
"The Shining Devil Took Them!" My colleagues of the Association, and you others who may read this my narrative, for what I did and did not when full realization returned I must offer here, briefly as I can, an explanation; a defense--if you will.
My first act was to spring to the open port.

The coma had lasted hours, for the moon was now low in the west! I ran to the door to sound the alarm.

It resisted under my frantic hands; would not open.
Something fell tinkling to the floor.

It was the key and I remembered then that Throckmartin had turned it before we began our vigil.

With memory a hope died that I had not known was in me, the hope that he had escaped from the cabin, found refuge elsewhere on the ship.
And as I stooped, fumbling with shaking fingers for the key, a thought came to me that drove again the blood from my heart, held me rigid.